Growing Leadership Abilities
In the wake of recent challenges, many have found themselves reassessing priorities and seeking new opportunities for personal and professional growth. As we transition into a new chapter, it’s a pivotal moment to propel ourselves forward.
Are you looking to advance your career, perhaps launch or expand your own business, or make a meaningful impact in your community? Do you seek to forge deeper connections within the valley, or to enhance your abilities as a manager, parent, partner, or community member?
Whatever aspirations drive you, the RFL Academy stands as a beacon of support and opportunity. Our flagship program is dedicated to empowering individuals to realize your goals, both personally and professionally. Join us on a transformative journey as we navigate the path forward, together.
The Academy program provides the tools, dialogue and practical application for participants to become better leaders and thus better people.
Participants describe the 10-month program as inspiring, eye-opening, life-changing, challenging, and transformative. They often have cathartic or revitalizing experiences that bring new enthusiasm and excitement to all aspects of their life – both personally and professionally.
If you want to develop your personal capacity to make an impact – the Academy is for you. To see our most recent graduates – click here.
“In working to improve our communities, leadership is our most important resource. It is the engine that pulls the train. If you are involved in any group or organization, you will need to develop leadership in order to accomplish anything of significance. Why? Because it is leaders who make things happen. It is leaders who have a vision, take initiative, influence people, make proposals, organize logistics, solve problems, follow-up, and most of all — take responsibility. This is why leadership development should be a central activity for any community.” – University of Kansas’s declaration on the “Needs for Formal Leadership Development Within a Community.”
For years, RFL’s rating from program participants have exceeded industry norms with 97% agreed or strongly agreed that RFL played a significant role in improving their leadership skills. Additionally:
- 90% agreed or strongly agreed that the program was a valuable use of their time
- 92% welcome the challenge of leading a group or initiative at work (because of the skill learned in the program)
- 82% experienced a “breakthrough” in the program
- 97% improved their effectiveness in current leadership roles
RFL Academy is a 10-month course (August through May) that includes 11 sessions, 100+ hours.
Applications for RFL Academy 2027 (August 2026- May 2027) are due by July 15, 2026.
Once your application is received, we will contact you within a week to schedule an interview.
Tuition for RFL Academy 2027 is $4,250. Monthly payment plans are available and are encouraged if full payment upfront is not possible.
Each year, the RFL Academy empowers its participants with the opportunity to engage in real community challenges through civic impact projects. Within the program, participants are divided into project teams, typically comprising 6-8 individuals, tasked with tackling a specific civic impact project. These teams serve as platforms for honing the leadership skills acquired during the program while simultaneously effecting positive change within the community.
These projects are designed to foster the development of essential leadership competencies such as collaboration, consensus building, team decision-making, leading change, facilitation, and conflict resolution. By actively engaging in these projects, participants not only refine their skills but also gain a deeper appreciation for the values of creativity, empathy, openness, discipline, and closure. Most significantly, they come to realize their capacity to enact meaningful change both for themselves and their community.
Click here for more information about civic projects and/or to submit your project for consideration.
Participation in RFL Academy requires a commitment of time and energy. Please consider carefully the following requirements.
- Participants who miss more than 2 meetings will be required to withdraw from the program. The integrity of the program requires that participants be present at all sessions to both learn the leadership skills and to develop personal relationships.
- Complete all reading and writing assignments in a timely manner.
- Respect the confidential nature of the comments and discussion made during the group meetings.
- Tuition fee paid as outlined in the payment agreement.
RFL Academy: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RFL Academy?
The RFL Academy is a 10-month leadership experience designed to expand how you lead, within yourself, your work, and your community.
Participants engage in a powerful journey that moves from Leading Self → Leading Others → Leading Organizations → Leading Community → Leading Systems, building the awareness, skills, and relationships needed to lead in today’s complex world.
Who is the Academy for?
The Academy is for individuals who:
- Care deeply about their growth and impact
- Are ready to stretch beyond how they’ve led in the past
- Want to be more effective in their work, relationships, and community
You don’t need a specific title – just a willingness to engage, reflect, and lead.
What makes RFL Academy different?
RFL Academy is not a traditional leadership program.
- Cross-sector by design: You’ll learn alongside leaders from business, nonprofit, government, and beyond
- Experiential learning: You don’t just learn leadership – you practice it
- Real community impact: Through Civic Impact Projects, you work on real issues that matter
- Focus on how you show up: Not just what you know, but how you lead
- Builds Relationship and Community Connections: Expand your network and learn how to work across differences
This is leadership as a practice – not just a skillset.
What is the time commitment?
The Academy runs from August through May and includes:
- One full-day session per month
- A 2-day opening retreat
- A 2-day Adaptive Leadership experience
- Participation in a Civic Impact Project (CIP) with a small team
Outside of sessions, participants typically invest a few hours per month in preparation, project work, and connecting with their team.
What is the Civic Impact Project?
The Civic Impact Project is a core part of the Academy experience.
Participants work in small teams on real community challenges or opportunities – partnering with local organizations and stakeholders.
It’s where leadership moves from theory to action.
What do participants gain from the experience?
While each experience is unique, participants consistently walk away with:
- Greater self-awareness and confidence
- Stronger communication and relationship skills
- The ability to navigate complexity and lead through change
- A trusted network of peers across the region (social capital)
- A deeper connection to their community and role within it
For many, the Academy becomes a pivot point in their leadership journey.
Is the Academy worth the investment?
Participating in RFL Academy is a meaningful investment; not just of time, but of how you show up in your leadership and your life.
The return extends far beyond the program itself.
Alumni often go on to:
- Step into new or expanded leadership roles
- Launch and/or lead initiatives or organizations
- Engage more deeply in civic life
- Build lasting relationships that continue to support and challenge them
The ripple effect is real and long-lasting.
What if I’m busy or unsure I can commit?
Most participants are balancing full schedules, careers, and personal responsibilities.
They choose to participate because this experience strengthens how they show up in all of those areas.
If you’re feeling the pull, it’s worth exploring.
What if I don’t feel “ready”?
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
In fact, many participants begin the program with uncertainty – that’s part of the process.
If you’re open, curious, and willing to grow, you’re ready.
What is the difference between Academy and Mastermind?
Both programs support leadership growth—but they are intentionally designed for different stages, experiences, and outcomes.
RFL Academy (Flagship Program)
A 10-month, cross-sector leadership journey designed to expand how you lead in your work, community, and beyond.
- Diverse cohort across industries, roles, and communities
- Broad leadership development (self → others → organizations → community → systems)
- Includes a Civic Impact Project working on real community challenges
- Focus on expanding perspective, building social capital, and understanding complexity
- Ideal for those looking to grow, stretch, and step into broader leadership
Experience: Expansive, community-connected, and outward-facing
RFL Mastermind (Women’s Leadership Experience)
A 5-month, all-women cohort designed for deeper, more personal and relational leadership growth.
- Intimate cohort of women leaders
- Focus on emotional intelligence, confidence, influence, and boundaries
- Integrated coaching, reflection, and real-time application
- Strong emphasis on authentic leadership, voice, and alignment
- Builds deep trust, support, and accountability within the group
Experience: Deep, intentional, and inward-to-outward growth with a trusted circle of women
In short:
- Academy expands your leadership across systems, sectors, and community impact
- Mastermind deepens your leadership from the inside out – how you show up, lead, and navigate in your world
Which is right for you?
- Choose Academy if you’re looking to broaden your leadership, expand your network, and engage in community impact
- Choose Mastermind if you’re looking for a more intimate, women-centered experience focused on deeper personal and professional growth
What is the application process?
The process includes:
- Nomination or self-nomination
- Application submission
- A short interview conversation
- Decision on acceptance notification
- Onboarding, if accepted
We aim to make decisions within one week of your interview.
What happens after I apply?
You’ll be invited to a short interview (10–15 minutes), which is simply a conversation to get to know you and ensure mutual fit.
Do you offer scholarships?
Yes. RFL does offer scholarships to individuals who need financial assistance. We do this to the best of our ability and based on available scholarship funding. At RFL, we believe finances should not be a barrier to leadership development, so we always encourage individuals to apply.
Once RFL receives an application, you will have the opportunity to schedule a brief 15-minute interview. After the interview and participation decisions are made, accepted participants will receive access to the RFL Academy Prerequisites in the Learning Management System (LMS), where the scholarship request form is available to complete.
What is the long-term impact of the Academy?
RFL Academy is more than a program – it’s part of a larger leadership ecosystem.
The impact shows up in:
- Increased social capital (trusted relationships across sectors)
- Stronger collaboration across communities
- Expanded civic engagement
- Greater economic and community resilience
- A deeper sense of belonging and connection
Participants don’t just grow individually – they contribute to stronger, more connected communities.
How do I get started?
If you’ve been nominated, check your email for next steps.
If you’re exploring on your own, you can:
- Submit a nomination (for yourself or someone else)
- Or reach out to learn more
Leadership is a choice and an investment. The Academy is where that choice turns into action.
What our alum have to say……
RFL provided me with an ongoing educational forum in Leadership training; an opportunity to learn about current valley wide issues, and with the contacts made, the ability to utilize these skills and information gained to be more effective in my civic and community involvement.
RFL helped us boost our leadership skills, and provide the tools and relationships to further expand our personal and professional goals and dreams.
RFL has affected my leadership journey by connecting me with individuals and teaching me the language of leadership. The skills and knowledge taught in the program have impacted my life by raising my level of awareness, skill, and education, so that I may continue to be of service to the communities I’m involved in.
RFL was valuable in being able to network. I was able to meet a new group of people in my community that I would have never known without RFL. Everyone was truly an inspiration to me, seeing their accomplishments and how they contribute… RFL really did give me a new outlook on the possibilities of life.
Thanks to the broad range of RFL sessions, and the progression in how they were presented, I’ve felt a transformation in my personal growth, which has led to a transformation in my professional demeanor, one that is far from complete but that I continue to work on every day.
When you go through something like RFL, sometimes you don’t understand what it gives you until later. I appreciate the kinds of conversations that happened in that room; you feel like you’re part of something. It’s definitely a stepping stone in your own understanding of what leadership can mean.
Participating in the Academy program has helped me see a path to integrate the personal growth, intuitive and spiritual side of myself with the business, practical and outcomes driven side of myself.
In RFL, I had this realization that I could be a leader – I can lead without being a titled person. From Greg Cortopassi [RFL faculty], I learned it’s okay to be vulnerable, to have emotion, to be my authentic self. I need to come from my truth to help others discover how they can lead and grow.
For me, it was also really important to learn about human interaction – being a successful leader is all about understanding other people and human behavior.
One thing I really took away from the course was learning that often, employees don’t leave because they don’t like what they were doing, they leave because they have poor management. We have a small boatyard in Newport where we do a lot of work on the boat when it’s up here and I manage the 8-10 people who do that work. I think that knowledge has pushed me to be a better manager and pushed me to make sure everyone is happy and fulfilled, otherwise it’ll be impossible to find good employees regardless of the industry you’re in – whether it’s restaurants or retail or sailing boats or managing a boatyard.
During RFL, I started getting better in the way I communicated – not just through email but I had opportunities to do video calls and phone calls. Ironically, I’ve always preferred face-to-face communication, so I can see people’s reactions. I was never comfortable with writing or just speaking over the phone. Practicing all those kinds of communication helped me a lot because then the pandemic hit and the way I managed to maintain communication with people was really important for my job. I worked remotely in Miami for almost 6 months and I was still able to produce the same level of work as when I was in the office.
In my personal life, I developed the confidence to break out of my shell and learned how to communicate better with friends and family. I learned how to explain things in a way people understand and be aware of what my body language is reflecting. Being in RFL was like being in a safe sandbox for me. I never felt judged. I felt I could try different things and get feedback on what I could do better and practice that.
The focus of effective leadership through communication, civic leadership, and conflict resolution has helped prepare me … The networking that RFL facilitated has helped me build relationships with many of the valley’s leaders and has allowed for numerous opportunities for collaboration.
